Chincoteague council approves expanded sick- and bereavement-leave language

The Chincoteague Town Council on Feb. 3 adopted revised language expanding employee sick leave family coverage and increasing bereavement pay.

The change to sick leave removes the prior requirement that relatives "live in the same household" and clarifies coverage for illness, injury or medically necessary care of family members; the bereavement policy was changed to grant up to five days paid bereavement for immediate family (previously three) and to increase paid leave for certain in-law deaths from one to three days. The revisions also add "comparable step relations" and "legal domestic partner" where applicable, per the Budget & Personnel committee's recommendation.

"This is something that went through B&P after discussion of everybody at the meeting," Budget & Personnel chair McComb told the council while summarizing the two primary edits and the requested additions for bereavement and sick-leave language.

Councilmember Jay moved the ordinance-language adoption; the motion was seconded by Jean Wayne and passed by voice vote with ayes recorded and no opposition.

The changes will be reflected in the town's personnel manual and were forwarded for implementation by town staff. Council members raised budget-staffing considerations during discussion, noting increases in leave availability could affect frontline service levels if staffing is not adjusted during budget preparation.

The council also unanimously adopted the meeting minutes from Jan. 6 and Jan. 16 during the same session.